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Things

Name: Things
Director: Ben Rivers
Released: 2014
Duration: 21 min

Representation Score

7.2/10

Good

2014

Director

Ben Rivers

Runtime

21 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Ben Rivers’ *Things* is an experimental, non-narrative exploration of materiality. By rejecting traditional character-driven narratives, it avoids engaging with standard metrics of identity-based representation. The film disrupts conventional storytelling by focusing on fragmented objects and memories. It avoids reinforcing social hierarchies by emphasizing the inanimate. Ultimately, *Things* is a niche, poetic study of the natural and domestic worlds. It lacks the intentional character roles needed for characters who reflect more than one aspect of diversity.

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Category Breakdown

Does Things have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film lacks a traditional storyline, so specific LGBTQ+ storylines are not confirmed. By removing typical family structures, it avoids straight-centered clichés.

How does Things portray gender?

Fair

The film emphasizes objects and landscapes, avoiding established gender hierarchies. It maintains a gender-neutral stance by focusing on inanimate elements rather than character roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Things?

Fair

The film centers on domestic objects and natural settings, lacking a cast or social interactions. Therefore, there is no evidence of racial or ethnic representation.

How does Things represent religion and culture?

Good

The film highlights the relationship between humans and the environment, critiquing structured timeframes. It focuses on decay and memory, offering a postmodern perspective.

Does Things include disability representation?

Fair

The film explores sensory experiences through sound and texture, providing a unique look at perception. However, it does not specifically address neurodivergence or physical disabilities.

Present on Screen

The non-narrative structure avoids reinforcing traditional gender hierarchies or family units.
The focus on sensory textures and sound provides a unique, non-traditional perspective on perception.
The film offers a postmodern critique of structured, Western-centric temporalities through its focus on decay.

Limited or Absent

The absence of a discernible cast prevents any meaningful engagement with racial or ethnic representation.
The lack of character's ability to drive the story means the film cannot address specific identity-based storylines or multi-layered politics.
There is no explicit centering of neurodivergence or physical disability as a narrative theme.

Official Synopsis

Things is a lyrical analysis of the objects we gather around us, split into sections loosely based on the seasons. Rivers’ films are, typically, intimate portrayals of solitary beings or isolated communities. In Things however, he turns his attention to the unexplored objects, thoughts and memories from inside his own home. The film is a collision of individual fragments of video and sound, which together complete an abstract, humorous and intimate picture. In the Summer section for example, we witness a squirrel attacking a coconut model of another squirrel. In its attention to small moments, the film is a rumination of the things we gather around us.

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